Tinning apparatus.



IPATENTED SEPT. 4. 1906.

T. A. HICKMAN. TINNING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0011a. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m: NORRIS FETERS co. wasumcmu, 0 c4 PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

T. A. HICKMAN. TINNING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00113, 1905.

SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS 7m: NORRIS PETERS cu., wAsnlNcroH, n c.

PATBNTED SEPT. 4. 1906.

T. A. HICKMAN. TINNING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 0011s, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 d 4 m m Q 1 M t m n J W, o w M 0 1 7n: m'mms PETERS ca vusnmcmn, n, c.

THOMAS A. HICKMAN, OF CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA.

TINNING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed October 13, 1905- Serial No- 282,603.

To all whom/ it 7H/(LZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS AUGUSTUS IIICKMAN, a subject of King Edward VII, residing at Chester, in the county of Hancock and State of I/Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tinning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tinning apparatus; and the invention relates particularly to an apparatus for treating and eventually tin ning sheets of metal placed in the apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel form of apparatus wherein the various vats or tanks thereof are conveniently arranged in order that a sheet placed. in the machine can be easily and quickly manipulated throughout the apparatus until completed or tinned.

My invention in its broadest aspect involves positive and reliable means for successively treating sheets of tin, and in this connection a conventional form of tinning solution is employed, together with oils, such as palm-oil and the various liquids necessary to properly tin a sheet of metal. To this end I have constructed a novel form of apparatus embodying a plurality of vats or tanks, said vats being conveniently and economically arranged to facilitate the work of tinning a sheet of metal. I have arranged the various vats, especially those containing the tinning solution, whereby they can be easily attended by one workman, and in constructing the various vats a novel structure is provided, which permits of the entire apparatus being easily and quickly cleaned or renewed at any time desired.

I/Vith the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and referring to the drawings accompanying this application like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in.which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved apparatus, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the driving-gears employed in connection with the apparatus. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the manipulating mechanism mounted above the finishing vat ortank. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the same, partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a hanger. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a plate-supporting rack. Fig. 8 is an end view of the rack. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a chain-carrier arm. Fig. 10 is an end view of the same. Fig. 11 is a plan of an adjustable hanger-support. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating a modified form of operating 1nechan- 18111.

As my improved apparatus is an important factor in the manufacture of tin, it is preferably located adjacent to a sheet-metal mill, from which the sheets of metal can. be easily obtained and transferred to my improved apparatus. The apparatus in its entirety embodies a plurality of tanks or vats and novel mechanism for manipulating sheets of metal in some of the tanks, the mechanism being driven from a suitable source of power, as a motor.

In constructing my improved apparatus I provide a well 1, the walls of which may be built up of brick, stone, cement, or the like. Transversely arranged in the well 1 are four vats or tanks 3, 4, 5, and 6, the vat 3 being known to the trade as a pickling-vat, the vat 4 as a waslnbosh, and vats 5 and 6 as water-storage vats. These vats are constructed of brick, concrete, or the like mate rials 7, and the vat 3 is provided with a me tallic lining 8. The vats 3 and 4 are located in close proximity to one another, the vat 4 being separated from the vat 5 by a bridge 9, while the vat 6 is separated from the vat 5 by a platform 10.

Adjacent the well 1 I provide another well 11, the walls of which may be built up of any desired material. In this well are suitably supported pots 15 and 16, these pots being generally known in the trade as a "tinningpot and a wash-pot, respectively. Underground flues 24 25 lead from the combustion-chambers (not shown) beneath these pots to flues 22 23 in a stack 21. These pots are heated by fires built underneath the same, access being had thereto from the side designated 26, steps 27 leading down into the well 11. A grease-pot 30 is disposed in the well 11 between the pot l5 and the vat 6 in the well 1, a basin 31 being formed between the ing tank 35.

grease-pot and the pot 16, the area of this basin embracing pots and 30, the transverse edges of the basin bordering upon vat 6 and wash-pot 16. Another well 32 is provided in close proximity to the well 1 1, and in said well 32 is mounted a finishing or drain- This finishing or draining tank 35 is formed of a plurality of sections 36 and a top section 37, somewhat funnel-shaped in form. A combustion-chamber (not shown) is provided beneath the finishing or draining tank and communicates with the stack or chimney 1 by underground flues 44, connecting with flue in said stack or chimney. The attendant enters well 32 by means of steps 40, provided for this purpose. A platform 46 covers the space between top section 37 of the finishing or draining tank and the pot 16.

The inclined side 47 of the tank 35 is pro.- vided with a bracket 48 at each end thereof, and journaled in said brackets is a roll 49. The opposite or transverse side of the tank 36 is provided at each end with an adjustable hanger-support 49, said support consisting of a horizontal portion 50, the one end of which is slotted, as at 51, in order that it may be adjustably connected to the transverse side of the tank 36by nuts and bolts 52. The opposite end of the horizontal portion 50 is bifurcated, as at 53, forming two pierced lugs 54 54, and between these lugs is fixed a hanger 55. In the hangers 55 55 is journaled a roll 56, and in connection with the brackets 48 48 and the hangers 55 55 brasses 57 are employed for supporting the rolls 49 and 56. At one end of the funnel-shaped top 37 of the tank 35 is formed a housing 58, and in this housing are journaled shafts 59 and 60, said shafts being connected to the ends of the rolls 49 and 56, respectively, by coupling-heads 61 61. The confronting ends of the shafts 59 and and the rolls 49 and 56 are substantially rectangular in cross-section and are adapted to fit into a rectangular opening 62, formed in the coupling-head 61. Mounted upon the shafts 59 and 60 within the housing 58 are pinions 63 and 64. A shaft 59 is journaled in a rectangular frame 65, carried by the structure 33. The one end of the shaft is provided with a pinion 59*, which meshes with pinion 63, while the extreme end of the shaft is provided with a cone or stepped pulley 66. J ournaled in the frame 65, transversely of the shaft 59, is a shaft 67, upon which is mounted a worm 68, adapted to mesh with a pinion 69, mounted upon the shaft 59 within the frame 65.

As heretofore stated, a motor or any suitable and reliable source of power may be employed to operate the mechanism of my improved apparatus, and in case a motor is used I preferably couple the armatureshaft of the motor direct to the shaft 67; but in case any other power is used a belt may be employed for transmitting a rotary motion to the stepped pulley 66.

The transverse side of the funnel-shaped opening 37 of the tank 35 is provided at each end with rearwardly-extending bosses 70 70, and in these bosses are journaled shafts 71 and 72. Mounted upon the shaft 71 adjacent to the ends thereof are chain-carrier arms 73 73, these arms being substantially segment shaped and being formed with a groove 74 from one end to the other of each arm. Mounted upon the shaft 72 are drums 75 75, and attached to each drum is a chain 76, which passes over the arms 73, said chains having their ends attached to the ends 77 of a supporting-rack 78. The sides of the supportingrack are provided with upwardly-extending curved arms 79, these arms forming a basketlike structure capable of supporting a sheet of metal. The one end of the shaft 72 is provided with a crank-handle 80, while the opposite end is provided with a ratchet-wheel 81, that is normally held from rotating in one direction by a pawl 82, carried by the boss 70. Upon the one end of the shaft 71 are fixed two levers 83 and 84, the lever 84 being provided with an adjustable weight 85, this lever serving to assist in the rotation of the shaft 71. The lever 83 is adapted to be manipulated by the attendant of the apparatus during the operation of tinning sheets of metal.

Directly above the inclined side 47 of the funnel-shaped opening 37 is mounted a transverse bar 86, said barbeing notched, as at 87 87. Resting in the notches 87 87 and suspended from the bar 86 are guide-arms 88, these arms extending into close proximity to the inclined side 47 of the tank 35, and by moving said arms upon the bar 86 they serve to form a chute in conjunction with the inclined side 47. Journaled transversely above the funnel-shaped opening 37 of the tank is a shaft 89, this shaft being located adjacent to the inclined side 47 of the tank. Upon the shaft is mounted a plurality of curved fingers 90, these fingers extending downwardly into the tank 35. The one end of the shaft is provided with an upwardly-extending curved lever 91, and adjustably fixed upon said lever is a weight 92. The lever 91 is employed for partially rotating or rocking the shaft 89.

Operation: A sheet or plate of metal to be tinned by my improved apparatus is first placed in the picklingvat 3, where it is acted upon chemically by the pickling solution contained within the tank. After treatment within the vat 3 a workman removes the same to the wash-bosh vat 4, and after being treated therein the sheet is transferred from the vat 4 across the bridge 9 to either one or both of the vats 5 and 6. From here the sheet of metal is moved to the basin 31 and deposited in the grease-pot 30 for a period of time, after which it is placed in the IIO tinning-pot 15. This tinning-pot contains a tinning solution which is heated and retained at a certain degree of temperature by the products of combustion in the combustionchamber (not shown) beneath the tinningpot 15. After it has been properly treated within the tinning-pot it is removed to the wash-pot 16, where it encounters another hot solution. After the sheet of tin has been properly treated in the structure 12 it is carried across the platform 16 and placed in the tank 35. It is in this operation that my improved manipulating mechanism handles the piece of metal, and upon the guide-arms 88 88 being set to accommodate the width of the sheet of metal it is placed upon the fingers 90. By referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be observed that the weighted lever 91 holds the fingers in close proximity to the opposite side or wall of the tank 35 in order that the sheet of :metal may glide over the fingers 90 into the supportingrack 78. This supporting-rack is positioned at the end of the fingers by elevating the sheet-carrier arms 73, this being accomplished by manipulating the le ver 83. After the sheet of metal has been properly positioned within the supportingrack 78 the chain-carrier arms 73 are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which carries the sheet of metal into close proximity to the bottom of the tank Here the excess amount of tinning solution is permitted to drain off of the sheet of metal, also partially drying the sheet. The fire maintained in the combustion-chamber (not shown) beneath tank 35 serves to dry the sheet, and the drippings from the sheet are suitably caught beneath the tank 35, from where they may be removed by the attendant of the apparatus. When a sheet of tin has been properly treated within the tank 35, the lever 91 is elevated, which will move the fingers 90 to the opposite Wall of the tank, and by manipulating the lever 83 the sheet-carrier arms can be elevated to raise the supporting-rack into close proximity to the rolls 49 and 56. As the piece of tin engages these rolls it will be carried upwardly between the rolls as a finished product. During its passage through the rolls the attendant can retouch the plate, this being accomplished by having a tinning solution in an auxiliary tank 93, located adjacent to the rolls, it only being necessary for the workman to retouch the plate with a brush as it passes through the rolls. The roll 56, which is adjustably mounted in the tank 35, is normally held in close proximity to the roll 19 by an adjustable spring 94, this spring bearing against the rear face of the hanger and permitting the roll 56 to recede in case a sheet of tin of an abnormal thickness should pass through the rolls. 'When it is desired to regulate the depth at which a sheet of metal is to be lowered into the tank 35, the lever 80 is manipulated to rotate the shaft 72 and wind the chains '7 6 upon the drums 75. Throughout the entire operation of the tinning of a sheet of metal the various solutions contained in the pots or tanks 15, 16, and 35 are maintained at a predetermined temperature, which insures a perfect and positive coating of the sheet of metal, the combustionchambers (not shown) of said pots or tanks being atended by the operator of the apparatus.

My invention particularly resides in the structure 35 and its appurtenant parts, especially the manipulating and operating mechanism of the tank 35, and while the various vats and pots form an essential adjunct to the tank 35 I do not care to confine myself to the type of vats or pots used, and it is also arbitrary as to what tinning solutions are employed.

It is thought from the foregoing that the construction, operation, and advantages of the herein described tinning apparatus will be apparent without further description, and various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of the advantages thereof.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a tinning apparatus, the combina tion with vats and pots adapted to coat a sheet of metal, of a finishing-tank, a basin mounted below said tank, a roll revolubly mounted above said tank, an adjustable roll normally held in engagement with said roll and revolved thereby, a supporting-rack mounted in said tank and adapted to support sheets of metal, means to adjust said rack to different normal positions in the tank, means operable independently of the adjusting means to elevate said rack, means to feed sheets of metal to said rack, and means to guide sheets of metal when being fed to said rack, substantially as described.

2. In a tinning apparatus, the combination with vats and pots adapted to coat a sheet of metal, of a finishing-tank located adjacent to said vats and pots, a basin mounted beneath said tank, a roll revolubly mounted in said tank, a roll adjustably mounted adjacent to said roll and revolved by said roll, a supporting-rack suspended within said tank movable fingers mounted in said tank and adapted to convey a sheet of metal to said rack, means for moving said fingers from side to side of the tank means to guide a sheet of metal upon said fingers, means to elevate said supporting-rack, means to adjust said supporting-rack, and means to heat said tank, substantially as described.

3. In a tinning apparatus, the combination with vats and pots adapted to coat asheet of metal, of a finishing-tank, a supporting-raok adjustably mounted within said tank and adapted to support sheets of metal, rolls'revolubly mounted in said tank, one of said rolls being spring-pressed, means to ad :just the spring-roll toward the other roll,

means to elevate said carrier in close proximity to said rolls, means to guide a sheet of metal into said carrier, and means to heat said tank, substantially as described.

4. In a tinning apparatus, the combination with aheated tank, of a carrier mounted in said tank and adapted to support a sheet of metal, means for adjusting the carrier to and means for guiding a sheet of metal into said carrier. I

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. HIOKMAN.

Vitnesses: I

C. KLos'rERMANN, S. HIOKMAN. 

